Jittery Sena nominates 80 candidates

The Shiv Sena on Saturday decided to hold on to its official list of candidates fearing rebellion in its ranks even though it gave out A and B forms to around 80 of its contestants in the upcoming Mumbai civic polls.

The forms confirm the candidature by a political party as it gives the contestant the right to depict the party symbol. The initial 80 include party bigwigs like Sena leader of the house Sunil Prabhu, standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale, health committee chairman Rajul Patel, former mayors Dr Shubha Raul and Vishakha Raut.

Sources said the party is jittery about rebellion given that disgruntled party members would still have a chance to join Sena nemesis Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

Sena is also guarding against the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) concerned by the latter’s poaching trend that saw its sole MP in Mumbai-Thane belt, Anand Paranjpe, declare dissent recently.